Epic.PDF

This weekendI have mainly been resetting my workspace. I am lucky enough to have a whole room for my hobby but despite all the room i still manage to over fill every surface with half painted figures and projects,

Clearing some space I was able to run through two little pieces for my Epic/Adeptus Titamicus collection.

The first is for a planned Imperial Guard force that will initially be based around my Epic city and besieged PDF force.

i have always loved Airships and plan on creating some arial units to use as alt Titans and picked up a  very small Hindenburg model which will count as Knight and will represent a light one man scout Airship.

A very easy built!

Once assembled I removed the front gondola and added a set of weapons from Vanguard Miniatures 6mm range (Novan Elites mauler weapons Upgrade set)

Completed Airship with weapons placements 

the Airship stands on the same base size as a Knight

The base and stand should blend in well with the city (photos coming soon!)

As a bonus while sorting I found a Hatchette collectable figure I had been given and wanted to use as a terrain piece. The figure had one arm removed to add some war damage and based on Foamcard

Figure was painted up as old copper and should make a nice addition to my cityscape.

Vanguard Miniatures

Ion Age 15.Tank War. Pt 1

Many years ago I picked up a copy of Tank War - Fireball by Larry Steelbaugh. Despite never having read the first book it made for a good read and I have lost count how many time I have read it.

The book is set just after the outbreak of WW3 and a Cold war setting as Soviet forces invade western Europe. The story focus on exploits of the battle tank XM-F4 'No Slack Too' and a group of gun buggy Jager-Komandos as they fight behind enemy lines.

Inspired by the book I have started work on a buggy and tank force for my Ion Age collection and ties in with my image of the Prydian militia being used more like scouts and rangers in the Lithic Assumption. The final force can be adapted to serve as an element of a  Condot force or to operate being lines following a Shia Khan invasion 

 The tank will be an easy pick and I will be using a Taranis main battle tank.

For the Gun buggy I drew from my bits box and found a very old metal Alternative Armies scout car. These have not been sold for some time but after contacting Gavin Syme he was able to identify the miniature and even locate the mold so i could get some more! 

first sketch make to check that the idea would work, though this was a little too Fighting Golf Caddy!

Frame made with 5mm plasticard

Assembled design next to a militia figure

using a section of a Chupa lolly stick which almost matches the gun stand I can fit the guns but removed them for transport of to change weapons later

Rotary cannons from the Adder Vehicle Conversion pack

Four cars off the assembly line ready for the canopy to be added.

addendum - I have recently got hold of some more of the series so I am now finally reading book one!

Ion Age 28. Planetary Militia

...INQUIRY

...Access Location Stamp.

...LITHIC ASSUMPTION SPACE. PLANET FATE.

...Run holo log

The sensor light flashed and triggered a stream of data to scroll across the previously dormant parameter screen. Officer Freya Glas punched the duty alarm that would wake up the rest of her unit from their sleep rotation and began to suit up as she glanced over the screen. Listening to the others gathering on the hatch floor below her she rechecked her weapon clip and smiled, catching fragments of sarcastic banter and grumbles from the team. Once this would have intimidated her but now it was a comradely comfort, the squad renewing their bonds and exercising their own nervousness before the mission

Born to the parents of Prefect Administrators, she grew up in Crater Wall South a well off suburb Prefect outside Monolith City. Educated with the expectation she would join the civil service  she had given her future little thought but when the time came for her to start her Planetary Service it seemed to wake something within her and she signed up to frontline duty within the Militia. Her parents were concerned and implored her to take a safer post but she was adamant and after excelling during basic training, she was accelerated to the command track and found herself on Fate as second officer in a border listening station.

" Squad Assembled, Ma'am " called up Iban Cal, her Communications specialist, and she descended the stairs and led them to the garage that lay at the base of the station. Mounting their  Recon Adders, the squad sped out of the station and into the state grey landscape of Fate. 

Sorting though a bits box I found several of the 28mm Ion Age figures I had picked up 20+ years ago and had originally intended to use them as a state terrain but then found the remaining two figures from the set and decided to see what I could do with them, and if nothing else use them as a trial run for their 15mm equivalents!

 Cant remember when I picked these up ( might have been my brothers!) and never really looked at them until now and appreciate the quality of the sculpts. Post modern with a subtle sci-fi detail.

I wanted to keep the style fairly realistic, for the Lithic Assumption these are the Territorial Army, The National Guard of the Armed Forces, but also those with the most local knowledge and tracker/Guerrilla skills. I have not done any figures in Camo pattern before and settled on an urban pattern based off the classic Rogue Trader Imperial Guard stripes

I wanted to tie the more Sci fi elements back into the rest of the uniform and show it distressed and worn as if it was passed from recruit to recruit and damaged through constant drills and manoeuvres 

 Detail of the dropped weapon

The full squad led by Second Officer Glas

My most recent acquisition on ebay has given me quite a variety of Ion Age 28m to make up and enjoy opening a blister pack again! 

The next question is whether I paint  the Shia Khan in the more traditional Styx Legion red or my own Hades Legion purple and where to source a good 28mm recon buggy model 

Ion Age

Ion Age 15. Hades Legion Metaborg

...INQUIRY

...Hades Legion

...ACCESS DIRECTORY

...Legion Observation/Agent Loor

...ACCESS DIRECTORY

...personal log

...When the Khanate left, they knew it would not be the end and they would find a way back. Hades Legion knew this the best and made plans, laying the foundations of their second coming.

Hades has not given all their strength to the burning line that marks the Khanates advance, our intelligence operatives have been tracking their deployment following several unusual appearances. They have either withdrawn or refused to support engagements and seemly rerouted to sites of no identified military significance. Archivists have been able to reconstruct some early Khanate records and the locations match up to previous Hade's strongholds. 

It has been postulated that they are searching for something, whether it is part of this new war or left from the last one it is not clear. The theorized assets have been coded Hade's vaults and although we do not have the resources to formulate our own leads a strike force is being assembled. If what they seek is found I hope we are not too late.

Taking a break from my Malig Horde I have assembled a Giant Mechanoid to support them. The Metaborg are an archaic, erratic and brutal war machines and appeal both in sculpt and story.

i envisioned deep bunkers filled with dormant Metaborg left as the Khanate retreated. Over time these have become hidden and now as Hades Legion returns they are searching them out to bolster their forces and regain what was once theirs.

The original sculpt is one of two models in the range and is my favourite, a great pose with a predatory feel and braced behind the weapon mount. The sculpt was originally made for 28mm and has a Retained Knight helmet in the base which I have covered up with cork and gravel. I also trimmed off some of the base around the feet before mounting

Initial basing

I added some chain and a cog to its fist as if it had improvised a weapon during the battle

Hades Metaborg Proauctor Belial.

Nekros Variant

Hades Legion

Ion Age. The Lithic Assumption

The Lithic Assumption, the start of background material for my interplanetary realm. This will be an independent creation that draws on the Alternative Armies Ion Age universe but will give me a setting that I can fit into any game system like Rogue Trader

The Lithic Assumption 

Nearly 400 years ago the Ark ship Monolith discovered the Myra system and a fertile mineral-rich planet which would become known as Junction.  

Initial sketch of the Monolith

As exploratory data came into the command deck the news was met with mixed reactions. The ships commander, Captain Nico Argos saw only a waypoint on a journey of exploration that still had uncharted regions before it. His second was Navigator Elizabeta Spyre, she saw an end to their journey and petitioned to stop and settle. 

The discovery of Junction had divided the crew and following weeks of deliberations and increasing tensions between the Spacer faction led by Captain Argos and the Lander faction led by Navigator Spyre, it was decided to divide the ship's resources to support the Landers while the Monolith would continue to into the uncharted territories. The Landers were frustrated they could not use the vast resource of the Monolith itself but agreed to the compromise, though many were secretly relieved as they had grown fond and loyal to the great ship that had been their world for so long.

With any territory under its control being 'Assumed and taking the crews common abbreviation of the Monolith, the Lith, the planet was the first to be declared part of the newly founded Lithic Assumption. 

Monolith City was founded and over the following centuries, the Colony thrived and expanded, first over Junction and then back out into the stars and control two more star systems.

When contact was made with the Prydian Precinct the Lithic Assumption was initially cautious when faced with the armoured delegation but following negotiations, an alliance was formed and the Lithic Assumption became a semi-autonomous part of the Prydian Precinct.

The Spyre family received the Baronial decree and Constann became the first Baron of the Lithic Assumption. 

With the outbreak of Civil war. Baron Constann made a declaration of support for Princess Daphne and that the Lithic Assumption would remain neutral in the conflict. Defending its borders from any aggressors but would offer humanitarian aid to either faction. Prydian forces garrisoned within the Assumption were given leave to return to the Precinct or remain which many did and took the colours of the Realm.

 

15mm Retained Knight in LA livery 

The more aggressive Spacer faction have pushed for allying with one league and taking advantage of the conflict to expand Assumption holdings and influence while some elements have even gone so far to form a Condot company from their Prefecture troops and have fought under the name of the Lithic Free Company. 

Colours of the Lithic Assumption 

Geography :

Junction was named after initial pics of the planet showed a globe covered in crisscrossed lines like a train station junction. When planetfall was made it was discovered that the planet was covered in a series of mountain ranges and long valleys. Following a huge asteroid strike during the formation of the planet a particularly large number of tectonic plates were formed which has led to very mountainous regions. There are high levels of mineral deposits and fertile valley soil

Monolith City is the site of the original colony landing and was found within the remains of a huge crater and one of the largest open areas on the main continent.

Monolith City is the seat of governance for the Lithic Assumption and of the ruling Spyre Family

Weather in Junction varies greatly between the valley base and top regions. Temperate bases and areas of high wind above which can make travel difficult and led to the development of specialist flyers designed to deal with travelling at low levels and often narrow valleys

Lithic Assumption, it has dominion over three stellar systems 

Myra star – 4^th planet Junction and its moons Anvil and Echo.  5^th Planet Redsea  

Bellandri Star – 2^nd Planet Margrave and its moon Counter

Settis Star – 1 planet Fate . Mining colony 

Politics

The political structure is centralised with the Planetary Baron and First Minister supported by two houses. the House of Law and the House of Prefects. The House of Law is composed of lawyers and appointees of the First Minister who review and ratify laws from the House of Prefects. The House of Prefects is formed of Prefects who govern and represent each of the Prefectures which make up the Lithic Assumption.

The office of First Minister has been in the hands of the family of Navigator Elizabeta Spyre.

Within the political system, there are two loose political groupings, named after the original settlement factions, the Spacers and Landers. Spacer Prefects tend to be more aggressive and expansionists and are usually from the more urban Prefectures. Lander Prefects are usually from the more rural and industrial Prefectures and lean toward more peaceful and welfare-based policies and priorities and tend to be more isolationist.

Expeditionary detachment  from the Monolith

(Figures from a foray into 15mm several years ago. Now unfortunately sold)

Ion Age 15. Hades Legion

...INQUIRY

...Shia Khan

...ACCESS DIRECTORY

...Hades Legion

...ACCESS DIRECTORY

...Neocastle Report/Opening statement 

...The name is of Styx is well known throughout the Precinct, Foremost of the Shia Khan's legions.

But as the Matter Gateway stands open other Legions are emerging and building their own reputations

Recent reports has identified Hades Legion amongst the invasion forces and records from the first Khanate have confirmed this. 

Hades Legion was recorded as the first Legion under the Khan, clearly there has been a change in fortunes with Styx now in their place but Hades have lost none of their arrogance and are noted as a brutal Legion, even for the Khanate. Legion tactics favour orbital bombardments and heavy assault with high deployments of Pioneers and Armoured units. 

They are a Hammer and care little where it lands.

For my first project of 2019 I have decided to return to 15mm and the Ion Age universe

Firstly to paint up the figures I have had boxed up for many years and then to expand with a small Shia khan and then a Prydian battlegroup. 

24 Maligs based on pennies

On the left painted 10+ years ago and test model with new paint scheme.

1st Tesseran unit

For a bodyguard unit of Legionnaires I used figures from the Alternative Armies laserburn range 

Legion officer, laserburn figure

Hades Legion

Legate Barath with bodyguard Tesseran

supported by Malig auxillia

Pict capture from Khanate Forces 

following Orbital bombardment of Newcastle IV Colony.

 Ion Age

Alternative Armies laserburn Range